cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu (the destructive spirit) = good vs evil
Zarathustra: late 7-early 6 centuries BCE claimed Ahura Mazda came to him through a series of visions and chose him to act as his prophet and spread his message
Avesta: holy book of Sasanid scriptures
the loss of the Avesta and later Zoroastrian works contributed to a decline of Zoroastrianism in the 7 century
Belief Systems, philosophies, and ideologies
"Good words, good thoughts, good deeds."
glorified strength and martial virtues
the material world was believed to be a blessing, a reflection of Ahura Mazda's benevolent nature
Science and Technology
Persian Royal Road (1600 miles)
90 days for a caravan to travel the PRR
irrigation systems
underground canals known as qanat
allowed cultivators to distribute water to fields w/out losing large quantities to evaporation
The arts and architecture
Persepolis: administrative center and monument to the Achaemenid dynasty
built by Darius, 520 BCE
"nerve center" of the Persian empire from Darius's time to the end of the Achaemenid dynasty (330 BCE)
destroyed by Alexander of Macedon and his troops in a giant fire (possibly intentional)
Development and interaction of cultures
Civilization: Persia
Name:Kelsey Bavencoff